The growing threat of cyber-enabled cargo theft is one that no one in the transportation and logistics industry can afford to ignore. As a trusted asset-based carrier and full-service 3PL provider, Bay and Bay is committed to helping protect our customers, drivers, and carrier partners from this increasingly sophisticated form of cargo crime.
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) recently released a comprehensive Cybersecurity Cargo Crime Reduction Framework aimed at helping the industry respond to this issue. The guide outlines actionable steps carriers, brokers, and shippers can take to reduce theft risk. It emphasizes red flag recognition, layered security, and collaboration across the supply chain.
As Artie Crawford, NMFTA’s Director of Cybersecurity, told Transport Topics, “In the framework, we talk about something called convergence. We talk about the convergence between cybersecurity, operational security and physical security. Each one of those, by itself, won’t solve the problem.” That convergence is exactly what Bay & Bay is leaning into.
This topic is especially relevant to Bay and Bay’s work across trucking, logistics, and intermodal solutions. As threats evolve, we’re reinforcing our internal standards and helping our extended network understand how to stay ahead of tactics like identity fraud, social engineering, and digital infiltration of load boards and TMS platforms.
You can access the full NMFTA guide here: NMFTA Cybersecurity Resources
Understanding Cyber-Enabled Cargo Theft
Cyber-enabled cargo theft differs from traditional theft in that it often begins with stolen credentials, phishing emails, or system manipulation—rather than physical intrusion. Threat actors may impersonate legitimate carriers or brokers, exploit outdated software, or use insider information to redirect loads and disappear with valuable freight.
According to the NMFTA, the risk isn’t just in a missing trailer—it’s in the entire network. Freight networks, load boards, dispatch platforms, maintenance software, and even telematics systems can be exploited if security is lacking.
Why This Threat Matters to All of Us
For asset-based fleets like Bay and Bay, prevention begins by limiting access to important systems. It also requires secure authentication at every step. Our drivers, dispatchers, and support teams play a vital role in staying vigilant against fraud attempts.
As a 3PL, our exposure extends across multiple systems and relationships. Vetting carrier partners, ensuring secure data exchange, and educating teams on social engineering tactics all play a part in reducing risk. Even something as routine as updating contact details or banking information needs a second verification step to prevent deception.
For shippers, it’s critical to work with providers who take a proactive stance on cybersecurity. Cargo theft doesn’t just result in delayed shipments. It can impact insurance claims, product integrity, brand reputation, and even customer safety. Bay and Bay invests in security because protecting freight is a shared responsibility.
Practical Risk Mitigation Steps
Some of the core principles in the NMFTA guide align with the practices we are emphasizing across our operations:
- Access Control: Limiting account permissions and requiring multi-factor authentication.
- Awareness Training: Ensuring every employee understands phishing, credential theft, and impersonation tactics.
- Incident Response Planning: Having documented, regularly tested plans to respond to fraud, identity compromise, or technology breaches.
- Vendor Management: Verifying the legitimacy of every vendor and requiring contractual adherence to cybersecurity standards.
- Technology Hygiene: Regular software updates, encrypting devices, and isolating critical systems from general networks.
These aren’t just IT tasks—they are business-critical safeguards. A driver losing a tablet, a dispatcher clicking a phishing link, or a vendor with weak password protocols can open the door to a coordinated theft.
A Call for Collaboration
Cybersecurity and cargo protection are no longer separate concerns. Physical, digital, and operational controls must work together. At Bay and Bay, we see the cargo theft challenge as a chance to strengthen every link in the chain. We are working with our teams, carrier partners, and customers. We want everyone to understand what cyber theft is and how to prevent it.
If you’re a shipper evaluating your providers, ask what cybersecurity standards they follow. If you’re a driver or carrier, stay alert for suspicious emails or requests. And if you’re a logistics partner, keep your systems patched and your users trained.
We encourage everyone in transportation to read the NMFTA’s guide. Please take steps to check and improve your own safety measures.
Together, we can make cargo theft harder to pull off—and a lot easier to stop.